Fighting chance

Arianna Sauer, 17, left, and Taylor Walsh, 19, are working on their mixed martial art skills at Team Trauma. Sauer, a Forest High student, is the daughter of pro fighter Tommy Sauer.

Star-Banner/Bruce Ackerman

By John PattonCorrespondent

Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 6:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 6:59 p.m.

One of the stories mixed martial arts superstar Ronda Rousey repeats most often is how a few years back while at a movie theater, she was attacked by a few overly aggressive men. It began with the future UFC women's bantamweight champion getting struck by a shoe and also included her being grabbed from behind in an attempted chokehold.

It concluded with the body- and ego-bruised men filing assault charges.

Taylor Walsh has a similar, albeit a little more playful, tale.

A server at Tilted Kilt in Ocala, Walsh said that once word got out she was training in mixed martial arts at local gym Team Trauma, some male co-workers have attempted to test her.

That never works out well.

"I've messed around a little bit and have choked out a few of them," said Walsh, a 19-year-old former softball player for North Marion High School. "It's mainly goofing around, but they do try to get out and they can't.

"It doesn't happen as much any more as it used to because they're scared. They even tell my managers ‘she hits me and it hurts — she hits like a man.'"

Walsh, the national runner-up at a Brazilian jiu jitsu tournament in Lakeland last November, may have run out of sparring partners at her workplace, but she can still count on some competition from local training partner Arianna Sauer.

A student at Forest High School, Sauer has been around MMA her entire life.

Her father, Tommy "Trauma" Sauer, has compiled a 35-12 professional record with several signature wins including his finish of Jeff Monson (via first-round tap out) — something the legendary Fedor Emelianenko and a host of other big UFC names were unable to do against Monson.

Sauer has a three-fight contract with Bellator, which runs shows Thursday nights on SpikeTV. He said he hopes to compete on the company's March 28 card in Tampa.

There to support him, as she always is, would be Arianna.

"It's never been ‘don't hit my dad,'" Arianna said. "I've always been super stoked when he fights. I've just never been scared for him. It's always been like ‘yeah Dad, I want to be just like you!'"

She said she would like for that to actually happen soon after she turns 18 on July 21, if she is deemed ready.

Walsh and Sauer currently log two-and-a-half hours of training, four days each week, with their eyes on possibly following the lead of Rousey (6-0), a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo who will defend her 135-pound title against former Marine Liz Carmouche (8-2) in the main event of Saturday's UFC 157 card from Anaheim, Calif.

On the same weekend Danica Patrick will begin the Daytona 500 from the pole, Rousey's fight also will hold an historical significance. After years of saying women would never compete in the UFC, company president Dana White did an about-face, listing the ruthless, affable and charismatic Rousey as the primary reason.

By no means is this a one-shot deal. UFC has 10 women under contract with the intention of building a deep talent pool. And if Rousey's public workout Wednesday (which wrestlingobserver.com publisher Dave Meltzer reported drew more fans — many being moms and daughters — than all but last summer's Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen buildup) is any indication of tonight's pay-per-view buys, the women's division could become highly profitable.

"It's great to see," said Tommy Sauer, who said credit for the growth of women's MMA should also go to retired fighter Gina Carano. "They work very hard. And the fact that Ronda has come in and done what she's done with her legitimate (Olympic) credentials makes it so people have to take notice as to how talented many of these ladies are.

<p>One of the stories mixed martial arts superstar Ronda Rousey repeats most often is how a few years back while at a movie theater, she was attacked by a few overly aggressive men. It began with the future UFC women's bantamweight champion getting struck by a shoe and also included her being grabbed from behind in an attempted chokehold.</p><p>It concluded with the body- and ego-bruised men filing assault charges.</p><p>Taylor Walsh has a similar, albeit a little more playful, tale.</p><p>A server at Tilted Kilt in Ocala, Walsh said that once word got out she was training in mixed martial arts at local gym Team Trauma, some male co-workers have attempted to test her.</p><p>That never works out well.</p><p>"I've messed around a little bit and have choked out a few of them," said Walsh, a 19-year-old former softball player for North Marion High School. "It's mainly goofing around, but they do try to get out and they can't.</p><p>"It doesn't happen as much any more as it used to because they're scared. They even tell my managers 'she hits me and it hurts — she hits like a man.'"</p><p>Walsh, the national runner-up at a Brazilian jiu jitsu tournament in Lakeland last November, may have run out of sparring partners at her workplace, but she can still count on some competition from local training partner Arianna Sauer.</p><p>A student at Forest High School, Sauer has been around MMA her entire life.</p><p>Her father, Tommy "Trauma" Sauer, has compiled a 35-12 professional record with several signature wins including his finish of Jeff Monson (via first-round tap out) — something the legendary Fedor Emelianenko and a host of other big UFC names were unable to do against Monson.</p><p>Sauer has a three-fight contract with Bellator, which runs shows Thursday nights on SpikeTV. He said he hopes to compete on the company's March 28 card in Tampa.</p><p>There to support him, as she always is, would be Arianna.</p><p>"It's never been 'don't hit my dad,'" Arianna said. "I've always been super stoked when he fights. I've just never been scared for him. It's always been like 'yeah Dad, I want to be just like you!'"</p><p>She said she would like for that to actually happen soon after she turns 18 on July 21, if she is deemed ready.</p><p>Walsh and Sauer currently log two-and-a-half hours of training, four days each week, with their eyes on possibly following the lead of Rousey (6-0), a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo who will defend her 135-pound title against former Marine Liz Carmouche (8-2) in the main event of Saturday's UFC 157 card from Anaheim, Calif.</p><p>On the same weekend Danica Patrick will begin the Daytona 500 from the pole, Rousey's fight also will hold an historical significance. After years of saying women would never compete in the UFC, company president Dana White did an about-face, listing the ruthless, affable and charismatic Rousey as the primary reason.</p><p>By no means is this a one-shot deal. UFC has 10 women under contract with the intention of building a deep talent pool. And if Rousey's public workout Wednesday (which wrestlingobserver.com publisher Dave Meltzer reported drew more fans — many being moms and daughters — than all but last summer's Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen buildup) is any indication of tonight's pay-per-view buys, the women's division could become highly profitable.</p><p>"It's great to see," said Tommy Sauer, who said credit for the growth of women's MMA should also go to retired fighter Gina Carano. "They work very hard. And the fact that Ronda has come in and done what she's done with her legitimate (Olympic) credentials makes it so people have to take notice as to how talented many of these ladies are.</p><p>"I think it's only going to keep getting bigger from here."</p>